MarylandCecil County ties Class A alcohol licenses to voter counts
Starting July 1, 2026, Cecil County’s licensing board will count only Class A alcohol licenses toward a voter-based limit, with at least two allowed in each district.
What it does
Cecil County’s licensing board will count only Class A licenses toward a limit of one license per 2,000 registered voters, or major fraction. Each district must have at least two Class A licenses.
Argument forA minimum of two Class A licenses in each district could help keep a district from having too few licenses under the voter-based limit.
Argument againstA voter-based cap could limit how many Class A licenses are available in a district, which may make it harder for some businesses to get one.
More detail
The Cecil County licensing board counts only Class A licenses toward a limit based on registered voters. The rule applies to Class A licenses issued by the Cecil County Board of License Commissioners. The quota is calculated separately for each election district. The limit is one Class A license for every 2,000 registered voters or major fraction. The board may issue at least two Class A licenses in each election district. No other class of license counts toward the limit. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Approved by the Governor Wes Moore - Chapter 825Became Law
- Apr 7Returned Passed
- Apr 6Third Reading PassedPassed Senate
- Mar 31Favorable Adopted Second Reading PassedMinor
- Mar 30Favorable Report by FinanceMinor
- Mar 23Referred FinanceMinor
- Mar 23Third Reading PassedPassed House
- Mar 21Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 21Favorable with Amendments {Minor
- Mar 21Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and ElectionsMinor
- Mar 11
- Vote recorded On Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Hearing 2/23 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 30First Reading Government, Labor, and ElectionsIntroduced